Is It Ok to Have a Little Water in Crawl Space?
Have you noticed standing water in your home's crawl space? If it's of any consolation, you're not alone.
Research shows that about 60% of homes in the United States have wet crawl spaces or basements.
It's not uncommon for crawl spaces to have small amounts of moisture in humid climates. However, it's not healthy for this moisture to remain there. Here's a rundown on why there may be water in your crawl space and what steps you can take to resolve this.
Let's jump in!
Reasons Why There May Be Water in Your Crawl Space
Water may be accumulating in your crawl space because the water table in your area is high. Other reasons for water in your crawl space range from poor drainage to heavy rainfall.
If you notice standing water in your crawl space, this may also indicate that your walls are cracked. That's because water can easily seep into the concrete located between your walls' bricks if this concrete is damaged.
Water in a crawl space might additionally indicate a pipe leak that you may not have discovered yet.
Effects of Water in a Crawl Space
One of the biggest reasons why you don't want water in your crawl space is that standing water can weaken your house's structure over time. This may eventually cause the home to become unfit to live in.
Crawl spaces sit directly on the foundations of homes. This means that standing water in a home's crawl space can damage the wooden beams and concrete foundations that support the house.
Moisture in crawl spaces can also attract creepy-crawlies, like termites, which love warm, dark, damp spaces. Termites an threaten your home's structure and, in turn, its longevity.
Crawl space moisture can additionally cause mold and mildew to grow. This can lead to chronic health issues for your home's inhabitants.
Benefit of Crawl Space Encapsulation
The best solution for dealing with water in a crawl space is a process called encapsulation. This process involves adding the following to your crawl space: vapor barriers, a crawl space dehumidifier, insulation, and a high-quality drainage system.
During the crawl space encapsulation process, a professional company will seal your crawl space's vents and replace any damaged or damp insulation. They'll also cover the ground with a thick, durable vapor barrier.
These steps can help you to resolve your moisture challenges and keep mold from growing. This process can furthermore eliminate an insect infestation and protect your house's structural stability.
Removing humidity from the crawl space through this process can ultimately improve your house's energy efficiency as well.
How We Can Help with Crawl Space Remediation
There may be water in your crawl space due to leaking pipes, poor drainage, or heavy rainfall. Unfortunately, this water can cause health hazards, like crawl space mold. The good news is that crawl space encapsulation can resolve your existing moisture problems and prevent mold growth.
At Planet Friendly Pest Control, we can solve your crawl space's moisture problems through our top-tier encapsulation process. Get in touch with us to find out more about our crawl space remediation service, and let's work together to make your crawl space healthy!
